Propeller turret for propulsion and steering of aeroships



Dec. 29, 1931 s. E. HITT 1,838,258

PROPELLER TURRET FOR PROPULSION AND STEERING OF AEROSHIPS Filed Aug. 12, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 29, 1931. s, HlTT 1,838,258

PROPELLER TURRET FOR PROPULSION AND STEERING OF AEROSHIPS Filed Aug. 12, 1929 5 Sheets-sheaf 3' IWIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/ NVTNESSES 5M 5. 20,22 mm}? c x M Dec. 29, 1931. 4 s. E. HITT 1,838,258

PROPELLER TURRET FOR PROPULSION AND STEERING OF AEROSHIPS Filed Aug. 12, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 W \TNESSES 64/110, 5. WLCZe/V Patented Dec. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE SAMUEL E. HITT, OF ELYRIA, OHIO PROPELLER TURRET FOR- ?E OIULSION AND STEERING OF AEROSI-IIPS Application filed August 12, 1929. Serial No. 385,238.

for operators and capable of being turned in any direction by electric power under centralizedcontrol, so that the engine operators can start and stop the propeller or run the same at any speed desired and the pilot can turn the turrets in groups to steer and propel the aeroship.

As now planned, my aeroship has thirtytwo turrets for propulsion and steering, each equipped with a six hundred and twenty-five (625) horse power engine making a total of twenty thousand (20,000) horse power.

My reason for providing the propulsion units with combustion engines is to distribute the weight over the hull units and avoid the heavy load of alarge generator unit in the power house as is required in the electric propeller drives described in my application, Propulsion and steering of aeroships, Serial No. 349,916, filed March 26th, 1929.

The objects of the invention are as follows To provide combustion engine drives for the air propeller units for the propulsion and steering of the aeroship.

T 0 provide turntable mounting for the said propulsion unit.

To provide a turret for the said propulsion unit, with room for one or more operators.

To provide the turret with a fuel supply tank. 7

To provide means for filling the fuel supply tank.

To provide the turret with an oil tank.

To provide the turret with a water tank for water cooling of the engine cylinders.

To provide means for filling the water tank.

To provide means for turning the propulsion units so that all of the propellers can be turned to head into the wind or toward the head resistance or at such angle between the two, i. e., the angle of resultant resistance, according to the relative velocity of the aeroship and wind, as will perfectly equalize those forces and cause the aeroship to maintain a course straight ahead without drift as described and shown in my application, Propulsion andsteering of aeroships, Serial No. 349,916, filed March 26th, 1929.

To provide the turret with an annular gear and mechanism so that the turning motion of the turret is under centralized control.

To provide the turret turntable mounting with a king post to carry the propeller pull and relieve the rollers from end thrust.

' To provide a hollow king post for fuel piping.

To provide the fuel supply pipe with a valve inside the turret and accessible to the operator.

To provide the fuel pipe with an automatic valve for minimum 1 and maximum height of fluid.

To provide a propulsion unit with an engine shaft extension between'the propeller and engine of suiiicient length to allow a long nose construction of turret to ease the slip stream from'the propeller.

To provide the engine shaft and extension with a flexible coupling.

To provide the engine shaft and extension with frictionless bearings throughout to secure maximum power for minimum weight.

To provide the propulsionunit with air tight compartment for operators with means for ventilating the same.

To provide the propulsion unit with practically a. sound proof compartment, that operators may not become fatigued by long hours of service.

To provide the propulsion unit with a compartment large enough for a bunk or hammock so that one operator may be resting while another is on duty.

To provide the turret with a partition between the engine room and operators compartment to deaden the hum and vibration of the engine.

To provide the turret with a telephone connected to the pilot house.

To provide the turret with signal lights and electric gongs connected to the pilot house.

To provide a turret with a relatively small cross section to reduce the air head resistance to a minimum.

To provide a turret with head room so that the engine operators can stand and Walk erect.

To provide the propulsion unit with a combustion engine entirely enclosed within the turret.

To provide the propulsion unit with an engine of narrow width to allow passageway on each side of the engine.

To provide the propulsion unit with an engine adapted to the turret so that all parts of the drive are accessible to inspection and repair under running conditions.

To provide the propulsion unit with a combustion engine with moving parts enclosed to effect noiseless operation.

To provide the engine compartment with a telpher or small crane with hand hoist so that a cylinder can be removed at sea.

To provide the propulsion unit with a water cooled engine.

To provide a radiator for the water cooling system.

To provide the radiator with cooling vanes projecting out from the general contour of the turret.

To provide radiator vanes that follow the stream lines from the air propellers so that such vanes will offer a minimum head re sistance.

To provide the propulsion unit with a starting device.

To provide the propulsion unit with all necessary equipment for starting and stopping the engine so that the propeller drive is under complete control of the operator.

T provide the propulsion unit with means for stopping the engine from the pilot house in case the operators become disqualified and do not respond to a stop order.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out iuthe appended claims.

In the drawings 4 I Fig. 1 is an end view of one of the hull units.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the turret.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the turret, partly in section online 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the roller spider.

Fig. 6 is a half sectional elevation and half side view of the spider.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 77 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a section of one radiator sector and fastenings.

F 9 is a plan of the turning drive for one turret.

Fig. 10 is a plan of all the turrets, turning mechanism and turning motors for the two hulls of my aeroship.

Fig. 11 is an electrical diagram showing centralized control for turning the turrets for the two hulls of my aeroship.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in Fig. 1, is the hull, 2 the main frame and 3 intermediate framing between the hulll and the main frame 2. hen the aeroship rides upon the water the hull supports the load above it. Vhen the aeroship rises and the hull clears the water, the framing 2 and 3 carry the hull. 4 is one of the masts secured to the hull 1 and framing 23. 5 is one of the wings pivotedly mounted on the mast 4. 6 is one of the turrets mounted on the port deck 7 of the main frame 2. 8 is one of the turrets mounted on the starboard deck 9 of main frame 2. 10 are the air propellers of the turret units. 11% 11 are the cabins carried by the main frame 2.

In Fig. 2, the air propeller 10 is shown carried by a turret formed on slip-stream lines to reduce the head air resistance and the drag to a minimum. The air propeller 10 is driven by a combustion engine 21. In plan the engine compartment22 has parallel sides 22, the forward compartment 23 is of projectile form and tapers from the engine compa-rtment to the propeller, While the sides 19' of the rear compartment 19 for the operators taper off as the stern of a ship.

In Fig. 3, the air propeller 10 is shown driven by the combustion engine 21 by the shaft 24 and flexible coupling 25 mounted in bearings 26 and 27. The engine is started by a six cylinder combustion engine 28 through the clutch 29 and gears 30 and 31. One of the operators is shown telephoning to the pilot house with phone 32. 33 is a bunk which can be folded against the side of the compartment when not in use. 34 is the radiator for the water cooling system of the engines 21 and 28. Radiator vanes 35 project outside the shell 36 and are shown to follow the slip stream lines from the propeller '10. The upper portion of the turret as described embodyingthe propeller, engine and-operators compartments, is mounted on a cylindrical portion 37 supported by the deck 7. The oil tank 38 and the water tank 39 are placed under the floor of the operators compartment.

Thelower portion 37 of the turret is shown in more detail in Fig. 4 in which the engine 21 is shown with vertical cylinders, having passageways between the engine and sides 22, to make the engine compartment narrow, now planned Sfeet wide. The engine 21 is mounted on a revolvable base 40 having vertical webs 41 and bottom plate 42. The fuel tank 43 is made in sections which set on the bottom plate 42 between the Webs 41. The base 40 hasYa track 44 resting on conical rollers 45 which run on the track 46 of the stationary base 47 secured tothe upper deck 7 or 9 of the aeroship. The revolvable base 40 is pivoted in the center, having a hub 48 which turns on the king post 49 of the stationary base 47. The revolvable base 40 carries an outer track 50 engaged l y rollers 51 carried :revolvable base 40 carries an annular gear 55 engaged by the pinion 56 on the shaft 57 mounted on the bracket 58' and driven by the electric motor 59 through worm 60 and worm gear 61. The annular gear 55 is covered by a ;-,shield 62 fastened to the casing 37 of the revolvable base. I

The fuel supply line 130 connects withthe feed pressure line 131 through the check valve 132, the vertical riser 133 passing up through the hollow king post 49 above the engine room floor 134 and carries valves 135 and 136 serv ingthe filling pipes 137 and 138, which are station ary and held by the clamp 139 and pass downwardly into'the fuel tank 43, passing i.through a cylindrical head 140 with inner -from the center of the turret by radial arms secured to the hub 54 which is free to turn on the king post 49. The rollers 45 are kept equally distant by the cage 71.

Fig. 6, the rollers 45 turn on the spindles 2 ""of the radial arms 70 and are held endwise by collars 73, washers 7 4 and nuts 75. The stud shafts 76 of the arms 70. project out beyond the nuts and rollers 45, the cage 71 being The radial arms 70 screw intothe hub 54 as at 78, and are furtherheld'by lock nuts-7 9, sothat ad ustn1ents can be made until all the -:--rollers make contact on both the uppertrack grooved at 77 to drop down over the stud shafts 7 6. the ca e 71 bein easil removable.

44 and the lower track 46and untils'the'turret turns true about the king post: 49.

InkFigs.-7 and 8, 80 are longitudinal .=members of the framing of the forward compart-.-

ments, 81. are sectors of. the radiator. for the Watercooling system for thecombustion eln.

gines. Sectors 81 are removable from theout sideand .are held-in place by clips82-andbolts 83. Radiator sectors 81 are piped from the inside with bypass valves so that should one of the sectors start to leakthat sector can be.

cutout.

In Fig. 9, 50 is the outside track,'51. are .the-

rollers for holding'the turret down, 55 is the;

annular gear, 56 the pinion, 59. the turning motor, 60'the worm and-61 the worm gear. The general-scheme for the propulsion and steering of the aeroship is shown in Fig. '10,

in which and 91 are the twoforward, turrets and 92 and 93 are the :two aft turrets 'on port hull- 1, used for both. propulsion and steering of the aeroship. Turrets 90 and 91 tric motor 96through cross shaft 97 and gear ing 60, 61, 56 and 55 as shown inFigs 3, 4

and 9. Intermediate turrets 100 and 101: are

turned by the electric motor 102, cross. shaft 103, miter'gears 104.and' 105, longitudinal-- shafting 106 and 107, and gearing 60, 61, 56

and 55, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 9.. The intermediate units 100 and 101 are generally usedfor the propulsion only; To: steer the aeroship to portthe turrets 90 and :91are' turned to port and the aftturrets 92 and 93 arewturned to starboard, in like manner, to

steer the aeroship to starboard, the forward turrets 90 and 91 are-turned to-starboard and the aft turrets 92 and 93 are turnedto port.

To steelr the aeroship sideways-:01 at. an oblique angle, all of the turrets 90, 91, 92, 93,

.100 and 101 are turned in the direction desired.v

The. above description is applicable also to the propulsion and steering-unitson starboard hull 2 where like parts are given the same numbers primed.

Fig.11 is a wiring diagram for the turret turning motors in which 94 and 94 arethe forward motors, 102 and 102' are the intermediate motors and 96 and 96 are the'aft motors. These motors-are all wired to the pilot house Where controller 110 has-circuit leads 111 and 112 to the motor 94, controller 115 has circuit leads 116 and 117 to the motor- 102 and-controller:120has leads'121 and 122 to the motor 96. The controllers 110, 115 I and 120 are reversing and the motors are all equipped Withrelectric brakes-so thatwhen any group of turrets has-reached the desired direction, the controller is turned to the off position as at 125, 'for instance, andthat motor stops. 1

The circuits for hullv 2 are similar with same numbers primed for like parts.

The operation of my invention is as follows:--

The turret operators are given general instructions when they enter the turrets. When the time of departure draws near, the pilot signals by electric gong in each turret, meaning Are you ready. Each operator answersReady. Vhen all the turret numbers on the pilots signal board show clear, the pilot signals Start. All the turret operators receiving the signal, start their engines on slow speed for 1 gong signal. When under way, the engines are speeded up as the signals come in 2, 3 or 4 gongs for instance.

The pilot gives personal direction to the switchboard operator relative to'the angle to which the forward, intermediate and aft groups of turrets are to make with the axis of the aeroship. The pilot watches his compass and gradually brings the aeroship t0 the course desired, when all of the turrets are turned to the angle required to hold the course. The pilot then signals for increased speed. The speed is gradually increased until the hulls are skipping on top of the Waves, when the turret operators are signaled to hold the speed.

On coming into port the procedure is reversed, the turret operators are signalled to reduce speed several times when slowing down from a speed of 100 to 140 miles or more per hour. WVhen the engines stop, the order is given to cast anchor. The passengers are taken off by a local boat.

lVhen conditions are good and the pilot wishes to make the best time, the propeller speeds are increased until the hulls clear the water, the hulls rising about ten feet above the crests of the highest waves.

What I claim is 1. In an aeroship or similar craft having a plurality of propulsion units, the said propulsion unit consisting of an air propeller and combustion engine drive, turret mount ing for each of the said propulsion units, and electric motors, shafting and gearing for turning the forward, intermediate and rear turrets in groups or all together, substantially as specified.

2. In an aeroship or similar craft having a plurality of propulsion units, the said propulsion unit consisting of an air propeller and a combustion engine drive, turret mountings for the said propulsion units, electric motors and gearing for turning the said turrets in any desired direction, and electric controllers for each of the said electric motors, to turn the said turrets in forward, intermediate or rear groups, separately or all together to steer and propel the said aeroship, substantially as specified.

3. In an aeroship or similar craft, a stationary base member including a king post and an annular bearing concentric with the king post, a turret base having a downward projection journaled upon the king post and having an annular bearing portion facing the said bearing, a plurality of outer rollers disposed between the said bearing and bearing portion and having their axes radial of the king post, the turret base having an external gear formed thereon, a pinion journaled upon the base member on a vertical axis and meshing with the said gear, and means for rotating the pinion so as to revolve the turret.

4. In an aeroship or similar craft, an assemblage as per claim 3, in which the said bearing and bearing member present opposed conical faces diverging from a common point on the axis of the turret, and in which the said rollers are conical and taper toward the said point.

5. In an aeroship or similar craft, a hull, two parallel rows of stationary turntables extending longitudinally of the craft at opposite sides of and equidistant from the vertical and longitudinal medial plane of the hull, a turret rotatably mounted on each turntable; two mechanisms respectively connecting the turrets at each side of the said plane, each mechanism including a shaft extending longitudinally of the craft and gearing interposed between each shaft and the adjacent turrets; and control mechanism for simultaneously rotating the two shafts so as to turn the turrets at opposite sides of the said plane respectively in the same rotational directions.

6. In an aeroship or similar craft, a hollow king post, a turret rotatable thereon, an annular fuel tank in lower portion of the turret, an internal combustion engine supported within the turret above the fuel tank; and a fuel supply duct extending upwardly through the bore of the king post and the bore of the fuel tank, the said duct being recurved within the turret and extending downwardly into the fuel tank.

7. In an aeroship or similar craft, a turret mounting and propulsion unit assembly as per claim 6, including a floor supported within the turret above the fuel tank and below the engine, the floor having a central aperture, and the recurved portion of the fuel duct extending downward into the tank through the said aperture.

8. In an aeroship or similar craft, a turret mounting and propulsion unit assembly as per claim 6, including a floor supported within the turret above the fuel tank and below the engine, the floor having a central aperture, and the recurved portion of the fuel duct extending downward into the tank through the said aperture, and a valve disposed above the said floor for controlling the connection between the recurved portion of the fuel duct and the portion of the said duct which extends upwardly through the bore of the tank.

9. In an aeroship or similar craft, a propulsion unit consisting of an air propeller and combustion engine drive, a turret mounting for the propulsion unit the said turret provided with an annular outer track, guide rollers engaging the said track, and stationary elements in which the said rollers are mounted, the stationary elements being arranged to take the thrust due to the tilting action of the said propeller, substantially as specified.

In testimony thereof, I afiix my signature.

SAMUEL E. HITT. 

